A curated community board for freelance illustrators and comic creators

Weekly Roundup – March 17, 2017

Hello! Welcome again to another Weekly Roundup. In the Weekly Roundup, I provide links and summarized information about the crowdfunded projects, creator opportunities, and resources that have caught my eye over the week. I hope you enjoy!

As a note: I am not sponsored by any company, group, or individual listed below or elsewhere on this site unless otherwise listed.

Helping Others

Are you a US resident wondering what to do about recent executive orders, gag orders, cabinet confirmations, and the future of your country? Sign up with 5calls.org to find out who to call about specific, pressing issues and what to say. Countable is also an informative resource (though I’ve personally been having issues with the app).

Take care and take your time. Your work is more important than ever. Thank you for sharing your originality and openness with the world. You bring light to the days of others, and it is so, so appreciated.

Recent Webcomic Debuts

Crowdfunded Projects

Seven Strengths: A Coloring Book for Resiliency is running a Kickstarter to fund the production of its coloring book. The book will include at least 28 line drawings to color, 16 activities, and survival strategies that are seen in the natural world. Tier options include digital and print copies of the book, prints, postcards, and issues 1 and 2 of Bioluminescent Lisp and Merethe’s Heart. The Kickstarter ends today, March 17.

BlerDCon: Diverse Anime, Cosplay, Comics, Gaming & Geek Con is running a Kickstarter to help provide additional content, guests, panelists, and performers to their 24-hour convention. The convention itself is already funded thanks to a partnership with EMConsultants, LLC., but additional funding via the Kickstarter will help BlerDCon further its efforts to include veteran, disabled, LGBTQ+, and international fans, as well as advocacy and support groups. The Kickstarter ends on March 19.

Husband and Husband Volume 1 is running a Kickstarter to fund the production of their first 100-page volume. The comics cover the fictional and biographical daily lives of two husbands. Tier options include digital and physical copies of Husband and Husband, original art, and a cameo in the comic. The Kickstarter ends March 24.

Dates! An Anthology of Queer Historical Fiction (Volume 2) is running a Kickstarter to fund the production of its second book, along with the payment of the artists involved. The second volume of Dates! will include over 218 pages of black and white comics, 13 full color illustrations, and 2 short prose stories featuring queer historical fiction with happy endings. Tier options include the digital or physical copy of the book, a digital copy of the first volume, bonus comics and illustrations, a digital desktop, an enamel pin, historical fiction written on the topic of your choice, art commissions, and original comic pages. The Kickstarter ends on March 25.

Milk & Honey Comic Anthology is running a Kickstarter to fund its production. This anthology will actually be the second issue of Milk & Honey, an anthology of standalone comics, illustrations and stories. Tier options include digital or physical copies of the 40-page anthology, stickers, and a shirt. The Kickstarter ends on March 25.

The Being | Isota – erotic graphic novel is running a Kickstarter to fund its production. The Being | Isota is the first erotic graphic novel created by a team of female creators in Poland. The book will feature 80+ pages of full-color illustrations and comics in both English and Polish. Tier options include a digital wallpaper, digital and physical copies of the book, postcards, prints, original comic pages, and a guest appearance within the pages of the graphic novel. The Kickstarter ends on April 5.

Your Royal Gayness – The Ultimate Fairytale Parody Game is running a Kickstarter to help fund its marketing needs and supplementary artists and writers. In Your Royal Gayness, you play as Amir, a closeted gay prince who must come up with excuses to avoid marrying princesses and help create a more queer-friendly kingdom. To quote the project: “We’re making a funny game with a gay protagonist, but the idea is not to make fun of gay people, it’s about pointing out absurd situations sexual minorities have to face in their daily life through humor.” Tier options include a digital wallpaper pack, keys for the game on either Steam or itch.io, physical copies of the game, the digital soundtrack, a digital artbook, posters, stickers, your name in the game, or a custom character. The Kickstarter ends on April 6.

Fresh Romance brings you Volume 2 and Verona in its Kickstarter to fund the production and shipping of these new works. Comic anthology series Fresh Romance returns with its second volume featuring queer romance stories by Irene Koh, Sally Jane Thompson, and more. Chapters will be released monthly. Verona is the first original graphic novel released under the Fresh Romance Presents banner and retells the story of Romeo and Juliet with a modern setting and contemporary considerations. Tier options include a digital wallpaper, digital and physical copies of Verona, digital and physical copies of Fresh Romance Volume 2, prints, and an editorial consultation with Emet publisher Maytal Gilboa. The Kickstarter ends on April 7.

Mark of the Conifer: An Epic Fantasy Dinosaur Novel is running a Kickstarter to fund, its production. The illustrated novel tells the story of a young raptor warrior and will feature about 500 pages of content with 100 full color illustrations and 120,000 words of text. Tier options include digital and physical copies of the book in softcover and hardcover, bookmarks, stickers, papercraft patterns, a print, and a plushie. The Kickstarter ends on April 7.

Who We Are Now – A queer, post-apocalyptic visual novel is running a Kickstarter to fund the production of the game. Who We Are Now follows Wes, a survivor of apocalyptic desolation who is struggling to overcome trauma, horror, and feelings of isolation. When he finds a new settlement called Home, he meets four men with whom the player, through Wes, can develop relationships and heal. Tier options include a digital copy of the game, the digital soundtrack, and a digital artbook. The Kickstarter ends on April 14.

House of Wicked Creatures: An Indie Comic is running a Kickstarter to fund the work of the artist and letterer, as well as to pay for the production of the book. House of Wicked Creatures tells the story of Pan and Wraith, who attempt to frighten humans out of infringing upon the creatures of the forest. Tier options include digital and physical copies of the book, magnets, and an 8-page coloring book. The Kickstarter ends on April 14.

Bingo Love: A Black Queer Romance Graphic Novella is running a Kickstarter to fund its production costs. The 80-page graphic novella tells the story of Hazel Johnson and Mari McCray, two black teenagers who fall in love but are separated by the politics and pressures of the 1960s. Decades later they meet again playing Bingo. You can preview some of the pages, beautifully rendered by Jenn St-Onge. Tier options include a digital wallpaper, pdf and physical copies of the book, physical copies with variant covers, postcards, an enamel pin, a script review by Erica Schultz, Al Ewing, or Shawn Pryor, commissions, portfolio reviews, and Skype interviews. The Kickstarter ends on April 17.

The Queers and Comics Conference, in partnership with Prism Comics, is hosting a Travel Fund through Indiegogo’s Generosity platform. Donate funds to provide queer creators with travel funds to attend the conference on April 14 and 15. Donation tiers include benefits, such as digital and physical copies of books, postcards, t-shirts, and commissions from queer creators.

Creative Opportunities

General

Check the Lemma Soft Forums for paid work related to visual novel and game development, including project management, illustration, voice acting work, animation, music composition, writing, coding, and more.

SXSW Create has space available for companies with a focus on 3D printing, drones, biohacking, hardware, science, technology, bio-art, hacker/maker spaces, robots, STEAM, or artists. Underwritten space is available for educators, amateur innovators/makers, early stage startup companies, or other members of the maker and creative community.

Animation

Here is a survey for Women Professionals in Animation. If you work in animation and identify as a woman, please submit your anonymous information to this survey to inform and assist current and future animators.

You can find a directory of currently open animation jobs at animatedjobs.com! Companies like DHX Media, Disney, Nickelodeon, and others have a number of open full-time, part-time, freelance, and remote positions available, including those in social media, editing, and teaching.

Comics, Illustration, and More

Threadless is accepting submissions of t-shirt designs featuring the 90s until March 24. They also are accepting submissions for legging designs.You can submit designs outside of contests anytime here.

Cicada is seeking submissions of poetry, fiction, essays, and comics for their issue on Hauntings until March 27. They also have a call for submissions for an issue on aliens due by April 27 and an issue on puppets and dolls due by May 27.

The Bad Girls Bad Girls digital zine is accepting submissions until on a rolling basis through March 31. WIPs are due by March 10. All proceeds from digital sales will go to Planned Parenthood. WIPs must be completed and submitted by February 28, with final art due March 18.

The Trans Lifeline Benefit Anthology is accepting submissions of writing and illustration. Stories must be fanwork for a work in the public domain and have a hopeful or happy ending. 100% of proceeds will be donated to Trans Lifeline. Submissions are due by March 31.

Yaoi Con is hosting a Mascot Contest. Illustrate two new mascots for the chance to win a full weekend pass and an artist alley table. Your art will also be featured throughout the con. Contest ends March 31.

Graphix, an imprint of Scholastic that previously published Raina Telgemeier’s Smile, Jeff Smith’s Bone, and Kazu Kibuishi’s Amulet, is accepting submissions for graphic novelists creating works for children and teens. Visit their site for more information. The deadline to apply is April 1.

The John Locher Memorial Award is accepting submissions of artwork with strong political points of view from applicants aged 18-25 until April 15. Winners will receive a $1000 cash prize, an all-expenses-paid trip to the annual convention of the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists, and a free pass to the CTN Animation Expo in Burbank, California, November 17th-19th.

Resist! Volume 2 is accepting submissions for their not-for-profit zine until May, though artists are encouraged to submit early and often. The first volume was distributed for free at inauguration protests, but the second volume will be available for a low cost at bookstores and comic stores nationwide, with plans to make copies available to schools and libraries. Women, minorities, and international artists are encouraged to submit.

For the Scribes is accepting submissions for their first issue of the Fresh Ink anthology until May 1. The theme is “Also Liberation.” Poetry, fiction, other prose, and comic submissions are welcome. No information provided on crediting, rights, or pay.

The Yaoi Army is accepting submissions for a BL anthology with the theme “Life and Death” until May 3. Illustrators will receive $250 and comic artists will be paid $20/page if the Kickstarter funds.

San Japan, a convention in San Antonio, Texas, is running two art contests with two winners for each. Two T-Shirt Contest winners will each receive an Artist Alley table and four convention badges. Two Mega Art Contest winners will each receive an Artist Alley table and four convention badges. Read here for more information. T-Shirt contest entries are due May 20, and Mega Art contest entries are due June 1.

A Legend of Zelda zine is accepting submissions of art until June 14. No information is provided about payment or distribution.

Rebel Mountain Press is accepting submissions of nonfiction, fiction, poetry, and artwork from LGBTQ2 people living in Canada. Submissions are due by June 30.

Taking the Lane #15: True Trans Bike Rebel is accepting submissions of short fiction (500-2500 words), illustrations, and photography until July 1. Payment to be split among contributors after the zine is crowdfunded.

Webcomic Amya is seeking a new fulltime artist within the next six months. Ideally, the selected artist would be able to commit to the project for 4 years. The selected will be paid $75 per page.

Argot Magazine is seeking written and illustrated submissions about queer and marginalized experiences. Click here for more on their mission as well as their pay rates.

The Brave Some is seeking submissions of short stories, prose, essays, reviews, and visual art by creators who identify as black and/or brown women and femmes.

San Japan, a convention in San Antonio, Texas, is running two art contests with two winners for each. Two T-Shirt Contest winners will each receive an Artist Alley table and four convention badges. Two Mega Art Contest winners will each receive an Artist Alley table and four convention badges. Read here for more information. T-Shirt contest entries are due May 20, and Mega Art contest entries are due June 1.

Mentorships

The Representation Matters Mentorship Program is accepting applications on a rolling basis from self-identified people of color interested in the publishing industry. Mentorships will last 6 months, with a minimum of one session every two months.

The Boston Public Library Writer-In-Residence Program is accepting applications until April 14. Recipients will receive a $20,000 stipend and office space in exchange for working 19 hours a week at the Boston Public Library. Writers of fiction, non-fiction, graphic novels, scripts, or poetry are welcome to apply.

GLAADGrants has applications open to film producers until March 24. Awards of either $2500 or $5000, social media support, and mentorships will be provided to recipients of the grant.

The Aurora Challenge Grantis accepting applications from US citizens residing in California who seek to travel to Japan to fulfill a dream or pursuit between September 1, 2017 and August 31, 2018. Applications are due by March 31.

Cicada is seeking submissions of poetry, fiction, essays, and comics for their issue on Hauntings until March 27. They also have a call for submissions for an issues on aliens due by April 27 and an issue on puppets and dolls due by May 27.

From March 1 to March 31, the DC Comic Writers Workshop will accept applications. Those accepted will receive access to a 13-week video workshop to help develop a portfolio with writing for DC Comics.

StArt Faire is accepting submissions of reviews, recommendations, interviews, short stories, and creative resources for their online monthly comic magazine. Issue 13’s submissions are due on March 29.

Black Girl Magic Lit Mag is accepting submissions of all varieties of speculative fiction for an upcoming fantasy fiction-themed issue. Creators of selected fiction works will be paid $50; creators of nonfiction works will be paid $25. Submissions are due by March 31.

Secrets of the Goat People #2, released by Women Write About Comics, is accepting submissions of prose, comics, and illustration based on the theme of “resistance” until March 31.

The Sesame Street Writers’ Room is accepting applications from writers of underrepresented racial groups for their Writers’ Room Fellowship until March 31.

The Trans Lifeline Benefit Anthology is accepting submissions of writing and illustration. Stories must be fanwork for a work in the public domain and have a hopeful or happy ending. 100% of proceeds will be donated to Trans Lifeline. Submissions are due by March 31.

Platypus Press is accepting submissions of emotional, vulnerable poetry for the anthology A Portrait in Blues until April 30.

For the Scribes is accepting submissions for their first issue of the Fresh Ink anthology until May 1. The theme is “Also Liberation.” Poetry, fiction, other prose, and comic submissions are welcome. No information provided on crediting, rights, or pay.

Flaming Aces & Arrows is accepting previously unpublished submissions of asexual- and aromantic-spectrum short stories and poems written by asexual- and aromantic-spectrum people. Submissions are due by June 15.

Rebel Mountain Press is accepting submissions of nonfiction, fiction, poetry, and artwork from LGBTQ2 people living in Canada. Submissions are due by June 30.

Indivisible We Stand is accepting submissions from women-identifying writers until July 1. Stories of resistance, protest, and the fight for women’s rights of 1000 to 5000 words are welcome.

Taking the Lane #15: True Trans Bike Rebel is accepting submissions of short fiction (500-2500 words), illustrations, and photography until July 1. Payment to be split among contributors after the zine is crowdfunded.

Argot Magazine is seeking written and illustrated submissions about queer and marginalized experiences. Click here for more on their mission as well as their pay rates.

Asymptote is accepting submissions of literary fiction, literary nonfiction, and poetry from the seven countries (Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen) directly affected by Trump’s travel ban. Contributors will be paid $200 per feature. Submissions are also being accepted on a rolling basis for other contributors and submission styles.

The Brave Some is seeking submissions of short stories, prose, essays, reviews, and visual art by creators who identify as black and/or brown women and femmes.

Online monthly magazine The Dark is accepting submissions from 2000 to 6000 words in length. Encouraged genres include horror and dark fantasy, but graphic, violent horror is not desired. Payment is $0.03/word for up to 6000 words. Republishing payment is $0.01/word.

Random House’s digital-only imprint Hydra has open submissions for completed works in the science fiction, fantasy, and horror categories. There is no word count limit for submissions, but full-length works of 40,000 words or more are preferred. Accepted writers will be assigned to a Random House editor, marketer, and publicist. Response time is usually 2-4 weeks.

On She Goes is seeking pitches and ideas about women of color and traveling. Tips, insight, and anecdotes are welcome.

Pink Narcissus Press is seeking complete novel and novella manuscripts of 50,000 words or more. They are interested in well-written but non-mainstream speculative fiction with strong elements of sci-fi or fantasy.

pnk prl is accepting submissions of blackout/erasure poetry from LGBTQ+ writers until further notice. Please source the origin of the original source.

The Quillis accepting submissions of stories, poetry, and creative nonfiction. Check here for their submission guidelines and pay scale.

Sapphire Books is accepting submissions of lesbian fiction, particularly within the genres of romance, mystery/intrigue with romantic elements, and young adult.

Youth

Check out Comics Club, a new blog that highlights and connects comics clubs and shares advice and resources to help youth comic creators. Comics Club is currently hoping to hear from teachers and other educators, existing comics clubs, or members of the community with insight to offer or events to share.

Vancouver Island students in grade 8 through 12 are invited to submit to “In Your Own Voice 2017,” a teen anthology to be published by Rebel Mountain Press. Written works and visual art are welcome. Submit by March 31 to be considered. Selected contributors will receive a copy of the zine, and winners of the contest will receive cash prizes sponsored by Vancouver Island Regional Libraries.

Becca Hillburn is not only a provider of extensive, honest, and high-quality product reviews and tutorials, she’s a full-time comic artist and illustrator passionate about children’s lit and helping others. Check out her store, her book, or her Patreon and send her a “thank you” message if you can!

Giveaways

That’s it for this week! Look out for another post next week with these categories and possibly more. Is there something you’d like to see more of? Something you know about but don’t see here? Let me know!

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